It's Important to Remember the "GOOD STUFF"

It's important to remember all of the positive things going on throughout York Public Schools. By nature, we tend to focus on the areas that need improvement (and we should) as we're always striving to get better. However, sometimes it's important to sit back and celebrate just some of the many outstanding initiatives and accomplishments we've had....so, that's what my blog is about this week! We have lots to be excited about while many challenges remain.

SPOTLIGHT on YORK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

York High School implemented a one-of-a-kind work certification program in September 2015 as students can earn high school credit AND work certification through the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in the areas of diversified ag, irrigation technology, and/or chemical application. Business partnerships with Reinke and Central Valley Ag make this possible as all courses are delivered at YHS!

Over 71% of our teachers have a Masters’ Degree. The state average is 52%.

Our 4th graders partner with Nebraska’s Chapter of “Pheasants Forever” each spring to improve several acres of pollinator habitat in York County.

The York Dukes have an average ACT Composite score of 22.5, which is well above the national average of 21.0.
Our students that took biology, chemistry, and physics had an average score of 26.5 on the ACT Science exam

We began an “Entrepreneurship Academy” in July 2015 in collaboration with the York Chamber of Commerce and York County Development Corporation. Our 5th-8th grade students learn about business plan development, create their own products, take out a real loan from a bank, market their products, and sell them!

We have offered a “FREE LUNCH” program each of the past five summers and averaged right around 75 daily meals in June/July 2015.
We’ve seen our percentage of elementary students that qualify for free/reduced lunch increase from 30% in 2000 to almost 60% in 2015.

York High School has partnered with our colleagues at Centennial and Seward High Schools to offer an “Agronomy Academy” through business partnerships with Pioneer, Monsanto, Syngenta, and Mycogen. Students are exposed to career exploration and the science of “corn” in our great state as they meet at a production facility three times a week to gain hands-on experiences not available in the traditional high school.

The York Dukes had an average score of 128.4 on NeSA-Reading while the state average was 120.6
Over 87% of the Dukes performed at/above the proficient level

The York Dukes had an average score of 120.9 on NeSA-Math while the state average was 109.3
Over 84% of the Dukes performed at/above the proficient level

The York Dukes had an average score of 112.3 on NeSA-Science while the state average was 105.7
Over 83% of the Dukes performed at/above the proficient level

Our partnerships with the Buffett Foundation allow us to offer some SixPence programming for 0-3 year olds that is outstanding and includes socialization activities, in-home visits, and coordination of services for those in need. We also partner with the Nebraska Womens’ Prison to provide parenting assistance to inmates that meet certain criteria.

The YHS Class of 2015 earned over $3.4 million in scholarships with $360,000 coming from local sources; which shows the tremendous community support our young people receive.

YHS students earned 938 college credits through our dual credit program in 2014-15!